Why is Halloween considered an evil holiday?

Question

I was raised as a Christian and wasn't allowed to celebrate Halloween as a child until my mom's friend (who has 10 kids) convinced her that I was safe and wouldn't be trick or treating alone. It still wasn't ok with her but, she let me go anyway. She told me it wasn't the point of me trick or treating alone, it was the fact that it is an evil holiday. I would like to know if anyone knows how or where Holloween originated and why is it considered evil among Christians?

Answer 1

You Call It Hallowe'en... We Call It Samhain

Author: Peg Aloi [a WitchVox Sponsor]
Posted: October 3rd. 1997
Times Viewed: 43,162

October 31st, commonly called Hallowe'en, is associated with many customs, some of them mysterious, some light-hearted, some of them downright odd. Why do we bob for apples, carve pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns, and tell ghost stories on this night? Why do children go door-to-door asking for candy, dressed in fantastical costumes? How is Hallowe'en connected to All Soul's Day, celebrated by some Christian denominations on November 1st? And what is the significance of this holiday for modern-day Witches?

A Brief History of Hallowe'en

Hallowe'en has its origins in the British Isles. While the modern tradition of trick or treat developed in the U. S., it too is based on folk customs brought to this country with Irish immigrants after 1840. Since ancient times in Ireland, Scotland, and England, October 31st has been celebrated as a feast for the dead, and also the day that marks the new year. Mexico observes a Day of the Dead on this day, as do other world cultures. In Scotland, the Gaelic word "Samhain" (pronounced "SAW-win" or "SAW-vane") means literally "summer's end."

Other names for this holiday include: All Hallows Eve ("hallow" means "sanctify"); Hallowtide; Hallowmass; Hallows; The Day of the Dead; All Soul's Night; All Saints' Day (both on November 1st).

For early Europeans, this time of the year marked the beginning of the cold, lean months to come; the flocks were brought in from the fields to live in sheds until spring. Some animals were slaughtered, and the meat preserved to provide food for winter. The last gathering of crops was known as "Harvest Home, " celebrated with fairs and festivals.

In addition to its agriculture significance, the ancient Celts also saw Samhain as a very spiritual time. Because October 31 lies exactly between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice, it is theorized that ancient peoples, with their reliance on astrology, thought it was a very potent time for magic and communion with spirits. The "veil between the worlds" of the living and the dead was said to be at its thinnest on this day; so the dead were invited to return to feast with their loved ones; welcomed in from the cold, much as the animals were brought inside. Ancient customs range from placing food out for dead ancestors, to performing rituals for communicating with those who had passed over.

Communion with the dead was thought to be the work of witches and sorcerers, although the common folk thought nothing of it. Because the rise of the Church led to growing suspicion of the pagan ways of country dwellers, Samhain also became associated with witches, black cats ("familiars" or animal friends), bats (night creatures), ghosts and other "spooky" things...the stereotype of the old hag riding the broomstick is simply a caricature; fairy tales have exploited this image for centuries.

Divination of the future was also commonly practiced at this magically-potent time; since it was also the Celtic New Year, people focused on their desires for the coming year. Certain traditions, such as bobbing for apples, roasting nuts in the fire, and baking cakes which contained tokens of luck, are actually ancient methods of telling fortunes.

So What About Those Jack-O-Lanterns?

Other old traditions have survived to this day; lanterns carved out of pumpkins and turnips were used to provide light on a night when huge bonfires were lit, and all households let their fires go out so they could be rekindled from this new fire; this was believed to be good luck for all households. The name "Jack-O-Lantern" means "Jack of the Lantern, " and comes from an old Irish tale. Jack was a man who could enter neither heaven nor hell and was condemned to wander through the night with only a candle in a turnip for light. Or so goes the legend...

But such folk names were commonly given to nature spirits, like the "Jack in the Green, " or to plants believed to possess magical properties, like "John O' Dreams, " or "Jack in the Pulpit." Irish fairy lore is full of such references. Since candles placed in hollowed-out pumpkins or turnips (commonly grown for food and abundant at this time of year) would produce flickering flames, especially on cold nights in October, this phenomenon may have led to the association of spirits with the lanterns; and this in turn may have led to the tradition of carving scary faces on them. It is an old legend that candle flames which flicker on Samhain night are being touched by the spirits of dead ancestors, or "ghosts."

Okay, What about the Candy?

"Trick or treat" as it is practiced in the U. S. is a complex custom believed to derive from several Samhain traditions, as well as being unique to this country. Since Irish immigrants were predominantly Catholic, they were more likely to observe All Soul's Day. But Ireland's folk traditions die hard, and the old ways of Samhain were remembered. The old tradition of going door to door asking for donations of money or food for the New Year's feast, was carried over to the U. S. from the British Isles. Hogmanay was celebrated January 1st in rural Scotland, and there are records of a "trick or treat" type of custom; curses would be invoked on those who did not give generously; while those who did give from their hearts were blessed and praised. Hence, the notion of "trick or treat" was born (although this greeting was not commonly used until the 1930's in the U. S.). The wearing of costumes is an ancient practice; villagers would dress as ghosts, to escort the spirits of the dead to the outskirts of the town, at the end of the night's celebration.

By the 1920's, "trick or treat" became a way of letting off steam for those urban poor living in crowded conditions. Innocent acts of vandalism (soaping windows, etc.) gave way to violent, cruel acts. Organizations like the Boy Scouts tried to organize ways for this holiday to become safe and fun; they started the practice of encouraging "good" children to visit shops and homes asking for treats, so as to prevent criminal acts. These "beggar's nights" became very popular and have evolved to what we know as Hallowe'en today.

What Do Modern Witches Do at Hallowe'en?

It is an important holiday for us. Witches are diverse, and practice a variety of traditions. Many of us use this time to practice forms of divination (such as tarot or runes). Many Witches also perform rituals to honor the dead; and may invite their deceased loved ones to visit for a time, if they choose. This is not a "seance" in the usual sense of the word; Witches extend an invitation, rather than summoning the dead, and we believe the world of the dead is very close to this one. So on Samhain, and again on Beltane (May 1st), when the veil between the worlds is thin, we attempt to travel between those worlds. This is done through meditation, visualization, and astral projection. Because Witches acknowledge human existence as part of a cycle of life, death and rebirth, Samhain is a time to reflect on our mortality, and to confront our fears of dying.

Some Witches look on Samhain as a time to prepare for the long, dark months of winter, a time of introspection and drawing inward. They may bid goodbye to the summer with one last celebratory rite. They may have harvest feasts, with vegetables and fruits they have grown, or home-brewed cider or mead. They may give thanks for what they have, projecting for abundance through the winter. Still others may celebrate with costume parties, enjoying treats and good times with friends. There are as many ways of observing Samhain as there are Witches in the world!

Answer 2

Halloween came from the Pagan holiday Samhain (pronounced "sow-when"). Like Ostara (now Easter) and Yule (now Christmas), the Christians "Christianized" the holiday. The Pope moved All Saints Day from the spring to coincide with Samhain, which was the end of the year. The name was changed to All Hallows Eve, until it's form now of Halloween.

Some Christians considered Christmas to be "too Pagan" and it wasn't always celebrated. Colonial Americans didn't celebrate it even! Halloween followed the same rout. However, Christmas is now celebrated by Christians, but Halloween isn't always. Many Christians see Halloween as still a Pagan holiday, and unfortunately they have many misconceptions about what Paganism is. Some Christians then draw the conclusion that to be Pagan is to be evil, and that Halloween is Pagan, therefore it's evil.

In summation, if Christians think that Halloween is evil because of it's Pagan roots, then should quite celebrating Christmas, which was once the Pagan holiday Yule, and Easter, which was once the Pagan holiday Ostara.

Answer 3

It actually was never an evil holiday. The devils, witches, etc. were there to 'scare away' evil spirits. A lot of extremist Christians think it's evil. I'm Christian. It ain't a big deal. Dress up, get some candy, have fun. Capiche?

Answer 4

Halloween is actually Hallows eve, the night before All Saints day and a lot of Christians thought to go out is like a witch thing.
That's my guess
Actually Halloween was non existent in Europe until the last few years, The Europeans celebrate St. Martins Day which is in October, that's when the children went from store to store to get goodies.

Answer 5

Halloween has an assumed preoccupation with the evil and supernatural alignment. Many believers of Christ treat Halloween as merely a secular entity devoted to celebrating imaginary spooks and handing out candy.

Halloween is also associated with the occult. European cultural traditions believe that Halloween is one of the liminal times of the year when the "spiritual world" can make contact with the physical world and when the magic is most potent.

Answer 6

Christians try to control their people with guilt induced by calling nature and human nature evil. So nature based religions like the ones that founded Halloween are considered evil by some unenlightened people.

Answer 7

It is an evil holiday. You should research about the origins of Halloween. Why celebrate a day of the devil?

Answer 8

halloween is a "evil" holiday because its said to be the devil's birthday!!!! :P

Answer 9

it is said to be a day when witches were in a frenzy do to the lunar cycle of the moon and needed the youth (virginity) of a child to stay young and they used candy to lure and sedate the children in their homes so they could perform their ceremony.

Answer 10

simply because americans are a bad influence and expect all your sweets, no-one simply has time for the world fattest kids anymore, or the money